Pet diaper garment

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a pet diaper garment that includes an absorbent garment portion and a bib strap. The absorbent garment and bib strap may be customized to securely and comfortably fit an animal.

This is a divisional of patent application Ser. No. 10/428,589, filedMay 2, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,745.

The present invention relates to a pet diaper garment. Moreparticularly, the pet diaper garment includes a customizable tailopening and customizable bib strap that are effective for allowing thegarment to be easily customized to securely and comfortably fit ananimal.

BACKGROUND

As a result of advanced age or medical condition, pets, such as dogs andcats, may exhibit a permanent or temporary inability to control theirwaste discharges, particularly urinary discharges, leading to numerousand problematic “accidents” in the home, automobile, etc. The samesituation can arise, whether in animal hospitals or later in the home,following particular forms of surgery performed on the pets. Accidentsof this nature also are common in very young animals, particularly dogs,during their training period. Apart from such situations, there oftenexists other instances where a means for preventing accidents of thisnature is desirable, such as for dogs left unattended for extendedperiods in the home, or dogs owned by persons residing in apartments whocannot immediately access outdoor areas, or the like.

A number of pet diapers are available. However, these diapers tend to bevery ineffective as they do not securely fit the animal. For example,when a pet diaper is applied to an animal having a small tail, theclearance between the tail and the tail hole tends to be too large. Theclearance may allow solid and fluid waste to escape.

Often times a pet diaper forms gaps or even falls off the animal. Somediapers are secured to the animal with suspenders or belts. Thesuspenders may be uncomfortable or may not provide the desired securefit because they do not always match the shape of the animal.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a pet diaper garment for use withfour legged domestic animals such as dogs or cats, or two leggedanimals, having incontinency problems due to age or illness. The diapergarment may also be used to prevent accidents which may occur when theanimal is left alone for extended periods of time or when the animal isstill being trained and for female dogs in heat. The pet diaper garmentis also effective for use as a physical barrier for avoiding pregnancy.The garment is especially effective as it may be easily customized bythe user to securely and comfortably fit onto the animal.

The pet diaper includes an absorbent garment portion that encircles theanimals torso, and a bib strap that helps to secure the absorbentgarment to the animal. The absorbent garment portion includes a backsection having an absorbent pad covering a rear section of the animal, afront section having an absorbent pad covering an abdominal area of theanimal, and stretchable side sections connecting the back and frontsections to form a top section. The absorbent garment portion may alsoinclude an elastic waist band effective for securing the absorbentgarment portion to the animal.

The back section of the absorbent garment portion includes perforationsthat are effective for allowing a user to easily locate and create acustomized tail opening at the base of the animal's tail. The customizedtail opening accommodates the animal's tail, affords greater comfort tothe animal, and reduces the risk that waste material will escape.

In one aspect of the invention, the absorbent garment portion may beformed as a single piece. In this aspect, the absorbent garment portionmay be put onto the animal by inserting the animal's legs into legopenings and then pulling the absorbent garment around the animal'storso. An opening may be formed in the back section of the absorbentgarment by opening perforations in the back section which match theposition of the animals tail.

In another aspect of the invention, the absorbent garment portion mayopen along its top section where the stretchable side sections arejoined. In this aspect, the absorbent garment portion may be put ontothe animal by inserting the animal's legs into leg openings and thenpulling the absorbent garment around the animal's torso and securing theside sections together to form a top section. The opening along the topsection may be extended by opening perforations in the back sectionfurther such that the back and side sections can be closed to securelyencircle the animals tail.

The pet diaper garment also includes a bib strap that helps to securethe absorbent garment to the animal. The bib strap includes a singlestrap section that is attached to the front section of the absorbentgarment. The bib strap includes perforations that allow the strap to beseparated into two sections. The two separated sections may extendaround the animals neck and front section and connect with the backsection of the absorbent garment. In alternative aspects of theinvention, the bib strap may separate to encircle the animal's neck areaand then connect to the back section of the absorbent garment in twoareas, or the bid strap may rejoin after encircling the animal's neckarea and then connect to the back section of the absorbent through thecombination of the customizable tail opening in the absorbent garmentand the customizable bib strap.

Absorbent Garment

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pet diaper garment 10 of the presentinvention includes an absorbent garment 20. The absorbent garment 20includes a back section 30, a front section 40, and stretchable sidesections 50 which join to form a top section 60 (shown in FIG. 3). Theback section 30 may include back section perforations 70. The absorbentgarment 20 also includes leg openings 80 that may be defined at least inpart by circumferentially disposed elastic material 90. The absorbentgarment 20 may also include an elastic waist band 100. In an importantaspect, the absorbent garment 20 does not include a belt, As usedherein, “no belt” means that the absorbent garment 20 does not include awaist band, elastic or otherwise, that is removable from the absorbentgarment 20.

The back 30 and front section 40 may be formed from an integral unitarymaterial, or may be formed by attachment together of separate back 30and front 40 sections which can be made of the same or differentmaterials. The absorbent garment 20 includes stretchable side sections50 adapted to engage the flank areas of the animal. The side sections 50can be separate components one from the other, and which are attached torespective edge areas of the back 30 and front 40 sections. The sidesections 50 may be made of the same or different material used in makingthe back 30 and front sections 40. The side sections 50 are made ofmaterial having elasticity so as to permit a snug fit along the flanksof the animal while at the same time permitting appropriate expansion soas to not interfere with breathing or other normal body movements.

As shown in FIG. 6, the absorbent garment 20 may open along the backsection. Side section 50 may be joined by connection, such as Velcro, tosecure the absorbent garment to the animal and to provide a securedcustomized fit around the animal's tail.

The absorbent garment 20 includes an absorbent material positioned onits inner face which is effective for absorbing liquid waste from theanimal or for containing solid waste. The absorbent garment 20 mayinclude an inner permeable sheet made of non woven fabric, an outerwaterproof sheet made of synthetic resin and absorbent material locatedbetween the inner and outer sheets.

In one aspect of the invention, the absorbent garment 20 is completelydetachable from the bib strap 110. Alternatively, the absorbent garment20 may be permanently attached to the bib strap 110. In this aspect, theabsorbent garment 20 may include removable absorbent pads.

Bib Strap

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pet diaper garment 10 of the presentinvention includes a bib strap 110. The bib strap 110 includes a firstsingle strap section 120 that is connected to the front section 40. Inone embodiment, the first single strap section 120 may connect to theentire width of the front section 40 (FIG. 4). In an alternative aspect,a smaller portion of strap section 120 may be attached to a portion ofthe front section 40 which is less than the entire width of the frontsection. The single strap section 120 may be permentantly attached tothe front section 40 such as, for example, with stitching.Alternatively, the single strap similarly may be removably attached tothe front section 120, such as, for example, with Velcro. The firstsingle strap section 120 includes strap perforations 130. Theperforations 130 allow the single strap section 120 to be separated intoseparate strap sections 140 or shoulder straps. In an alternative aspectof the invention shown in FIG. 2, the separate strap sections 140 orshoulder straps may rejoin to form a second single strap section 150 anddefine head opening 160. As shown in FIG. 5, the single strap section150 may be rejoined with the absorbent garment 20, with a connector, forexample, Velcro.

As shown in FIG. 7, the shoulder straps 140 of the bib strap 110 mayrejoin at a connector 200 and extend to connect to the absorbent garment20. The connector 200 may be any type of connector known in the art.

Fabric

One fabric-like material that has been used successfully in prototypesof the invention and that possesses the requisite elasticity isunderstood to be referred to as DeMique (trademark of Kimberly-ClarkCorporation, Neenah, Wis., for elastic nonwoven fabric) material ormaterial that has been manufactured by a DeMique process. The secure fitof the diaper garment, without discomfort, is additionally aided in thepreferred embodiments through the use of circumferential elasticmaterial for the leg and tail openings.

In another aspect, the fabric used in the pet diaper garment may includea four-way stretch material. The four-way stretch material includes atight-weave, four-way stretch fabric consists of about an eight (8)ounce tricot weave from about seventy-five (75) percent to abouteighty-five (85) percent nylon fiber, and from about fifteen (15)percent to about twenty-five (25) percent segmented polyurethane fiber,such as spandex or elastane. This composition yields elasticity stretchfactors of about ninety (90) to about one-hundred twenty (120) percentlongitudinally, with a maximum stretch of about two-hundred twenty (220)percent, and about sixty (60) to about one-hundred (100) percentlatitudinally, with a maximum stretch of about two-hundred (200)percent. In an alternative aspect of the invention, a polyester fibermay be substituted for the nylon fiber.

The elasticity of this fabric allows the garment to be easily put on andremoved from the animal, and allows the animal substantial freedom ofmovement. Moreover, this fabric retains its shape after repeated washingand continued wear.

In an alternative aspect of the invention, the protective garment mayinclude a weave such as Raschel with the percentages of the othermaterials remaining the same.

Connectors

In another important aspect of the invention, the garment closes withfasteners, for example, hook and loop fasteners like the fasteners soldunder the trademark “Velcro”, positioned as shown. As shown in FIG. 7,the shoulder straps 140 of the bib strap 110 may be adjustably joinedwith a connector 200. The connector 200 may be any connector known inthe art for the purpose of joining or restraining straps, such as forexample suspender straps and S-shaped straps.

Numerous modifications and variations in practice of the invention areexpected to occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of theforegoing detailed description of the invention. Consequently, suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the following claims.

Use of the Pet Diaper Garment

The pet diaper in the present invention may be provided in severaldifferent size categories, such as small, medium and large. Within thosegeneral size categories, the garment may be further customized to fit ananimal within those size categories. The design of the pet diapergarment allows it to be easily and conveniently put on and taken off ofthe animal.

The pet diaper garment is placed onto the animal by encircling theabsorbent garment 20 around the torso of the animal. The animal's legsare placed through leg openings 80 and a tail opening is made bypressing through perforations 70 in the back section 30. The animalstail may then be inserted through the opening made through perforations70.

In an alternative aspect where the absorbent garment 20 opens along theback section, the absorbent garment 20 is secured around the animal'storso. The absorbent garment is also positioned around the tail and thensecured along the top of the garment.

Once the absorbent garment 20 has been placed on the animal, bid straps110 may be extended along the animal's chest, positioned around eitherside of the animal's head and neck, extended along the animal's back toconnect with the absorbent garment 20. The absorbent garment 20 may beremoved from the animal by removing the bib straps 110 from theabsorbent garment 20 and removing the absorbent garment from the animal.

1. A method for containing waste discharges from pets comprising:encircling an animal's torso with an absorbent garment, the absorbentgarment having a back section, a front section, and stretchable sidesections which join to form a top section, the back section includingperforations; locating and creating a tail opening through theperforations in the back section of the absorbent garment andpositioning the back section around the animals tail; securing theabsorbent garment to the animals with a bib strap, the bib strap havinga single strap section wherein one end of the single strap sectionincluding perforations that allow the bib strap to be separated into twostrap sections and extended around the neck and front of the animal andwherein other opposite end of the single strap section is connected tothe top section of the absorbent garment.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein the absorbent garment includes an elastic waist band effectivefor further securing the garment to the animal.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein the absorbent garment includes stretchable side sections whichjoin to form the top section, wherein the side sections may be separatedto allow placement of the absorbent garment onto the animal.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the two strap sections encircle the neck ofthe animal and rejoin into a single strap that is connected to the topsection of the absorbent garment.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein thetwo strap sections are further secured with a connector before rejoiningas a single strap.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the bib strapsection is detachable from the absorbent garment.